Lunkula

Pauliina Syrjälä

159

Lunkula, an island in Lake Ladoga, is the birthplace of my father and home of my ancestors. There my grandfather, whom I never met, played the kantele. For me Lunkula is also a mindscape - a place where I can calm down with my music and let it flow.

Among all the kanteles the Jooseppi Pohjola kantele is the on I love most. It was made in the 19th century, and was traditionally played with a wooden stick. My favourite pastime is to search for different sounds, often using a variety of tools; on this record I play it with a crochet hook, a knitting needle, a paintbrush and finger picks as well as the traditional stick.

This record forms part of my doctorate work in the Folk Music Department of the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.